"Finis vitæ in primis noscendus est, ut ad eum actiones omnes dirigere valeamus; non minus quàm naviganti portus ad quem deveniat ante omnia statuendus."

Ficinus in Platonis Philebum, Cap. I.


[CHAPTER I.]

INTRODUCTORY.

"Flower in the crannied wall,

I pluck you out of the crannies;—

Hold you here, root and all, in my hand,